by Günther Deuschl
The European Academy of Neurology was founded just 18 months ago and is becoming increasingly accepted as a hub for scientific knowledge and premier education (please see the EAN movie). This is reflected in the number of neurologists and trainees who join the EAN as members. To remind you: EAN has close to 25 000 associated members from 47 national European Member Societies, but accepts neurologists wanting to upgrade their membership as individual members.
We are now already close to 500 full members with a rapid increase. We have been asked by several colleagues for the differences of the profile of these two membership types and the benefits they receive. As mentioned, we have two major types of memberships: associated members and full members.
Associate members receive their status as members of a National Neurological Society which is member of the EAN (Technical term: full institutional member). Each of these 25.000 associate members has several valuable benefits:
- Free online access to the European Journal of Neurology
- Free online access to eBrain
- Free online access to the internal pages of the EAN-website
- Reduced registration fee (~50€) for congress participation
- Access to EAN educational programmes
The typical associate member of our Society is the interested neurologist who wants to have access to educational material and news about the world of Neurology and particularly European Neurology. Importantly, in order to have access to the benefits, the National Neurology Society has to submit each member of the National Society to our Headoffice as the access to all benefits are granted individually. If associated members want to receive their benefits they have to mail to our Headoffice at membership@eaneurology.org and the head office will open your account.
These services are financed through the resources of the EAN. EAN receives three Euro for each associate member from the national member societies. This money is contributing to these services but is still not sufficient for the maintenance fees for eBrain. The journal and the website are also major investments within the regular budget of the EAN.
The full individual member is a paying member of our Society (annual fee 150€). The typical full members are neurologists, trainees, other physicians or allied health professionals who want a closer relation with EAN. The formal benefits are:
- Right to become a panel member of the scientific panels of our Society
- Active and passive voting rights for positions in the EAN
- Reduced registration fee (100€) for congress participation
- One free Teaching Course at EAN congresses
- Access to VIP area at EAN congresses
- Access to selected congress webcasts on the website after the congress
- The right to purchase the European Journal of Neurology at a reduced fee of 75€
- Printed Membership Certificate
And full members certainly receive all the benefits of associated members:
• Free internet access to the European Journal of Neurology
• Free Internet access to eBrain
• Free Internet access to the internal pages of the EAN-website
• Access to EAN educational programmes (if applicable due to training status)
Presently we are negotiating with the American Academy of Neurology to create a shared AAN/EAN membership which will come with a 10% reduction of the fees of both Societies. EAN full members are thereby deeply involved in all matters regarding the Society including privileged participation to all events and activities. They are actively involved in the development of this new Society and the further development of Neurology in Europe.
Prof. Lüder Deecke at his Viennese Hospital office with his new FEAN Medal
Meanwhile we also have 83 Fellows of the European Academy of Neurology (FEAN). This title acknowledges neurologists and other individuals, who are leaders in their scientific field, have dedicated continuing service to European and World Neurology or having served exceptional service for neurological patients which deserves a special recognition of the EAN. Fellow of the EAN is a title honoring the special service to Neurology or the Society. It is granted by the board.
Additional benefits are:
- Receipt of a metal plaque and certificate
- Use of title in CV & publications
- Special recognition on the EAN website
As the end of the year is close, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and neurologically fruitful New Year.
